Soft footsteps resounded throughout the hall as the Immortal Lily walked deliberately down the steps, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Her mesmerizing blue eyes scanned the five survivors standing at the entrance, studying each face to see which could potentially satisfy her boredom.
Audible gulps and gasps escaped their throats. Most of them averted their gazes, desperate to maintain their focus, but others were like Seth—trembling as he stared into those icy blue eyes, utterly captivated.
"Cleanse…"
Bren, the Angel of Light and Leader of the Sky Pierce Squad, spoke with cold indifference.
Golden light engulfed the squad, freeing them from the enthralling movements of the majestic woman who now stood still below the throne.
"I'll cast Cleanse every now and then. Remember our mission... it was to get the Chest, not to try and kill her. She's immortal anyway."
Seth's grip on his blade tightened.
For all the adversity the Sky Pierce Squad had experienced, this mission from the Arcane Dominion—from the Pope himself—was the hardest. It had wiped out more than half of their team, even with the support of their holy knights, just to breach this Rift.
Now, facing its Ruler face-to-face, hatred and madness threatened to consume him. He still doubted why the Pope needed mercenaries instead of deploying his own people.
Though the Sky Pierce Squad was merely composed of Blessed and Angels, their success rate had always been a hundred percent.
Thanks to Bren's leadership and a team that could adapt to any tactic on a whim, their synergy was flawless.
But looking at his remaining teammates, everyone was far from their peak. Their clothes were worn and damaged by the endless battle just to get inside the Rift… even their faces were masked by streaks of blood and grime.
Yet, their eyes still burned with the desire to win... and to complete a mission that had seemed impossible from the start.
As the only mortal on the team, Seth longed to understand what it took to be an Ascendant... or Corrupted. He craved to taste that power just once… like them.
Bren had become an Angel of Light in his early days. Xel, the Vice Leader, was also an Angel who commanded Space. Bell, on the other hand, was their healer—a Blessed of Life and a priestess who had followed Bren into the fray.
And finally, Camille... Seth's childhood friend. She was now a Blessed of Time, having ascended after witnessing her family's death at the hands of enemy soldiers before both of them escaped a fallen kingdom in the Celestial Empire.
These were the remaining members of the Sky Pierce Squad, and now... it seemed this was the first—and final—mission they would fail.
"Seth, never leave Bell. Xel and I will fight the Immortal. Camille... be fast so we can end this quickly."
As soon as the commands were issued, wings erupted from the backs of the Ascendants. A pair of starry-black void wings unfurled from Xel, signifying his status as an Angel of Space. Bell manifested a single verdant green wing, the mark of a Blessed of Life, and Camille bore a single, heavy-blurred wing—the sign of a Blessed of Time.
Together, their combined hues were wonderful and chaotic.
Most of their enemies saw this display as their final light… now, it felt like the squad's own final shine.
Bren walked deliberately toward the woman and pulled a war hammer from nothingness, its intricate design matching the golden armor he wore—the regalia of a true defender of light.
Xel, on the other hand, vanished. The sound of steel clashing echoed at the base of the throne as he laughed wildly, flickering in and out of existence to slash at the woman.
Sighing, Camille stared one last time at Seth, eyeing him with care and uncertainty.
"What? I haven't done anything yet!"
"Don't do anything funny, Seth... I won't be able to protect you. Bell, remind him of his mission. Don't let him be a hero."
Bell giggled and nodded, acting as if the ongoing battle had nothing to do with them.
"I'm not that weak to need your protection—"
In the blink of an eye, Camille became a blur, using her ability to control time to accelerate her speed as long as her body could withstand the burden.
Seth didn't dare relax.
Beneath his black mask, sweat drenched his face and soaked his body. He couldn't feel it—the essence being exuded by the body of the Immortal Lily.
Unlike his leader and vice leader, whose essences flared strongly, this woman exuded nothing.
Yet, she contended easily with Xel, deflecting his twin daggers with just a fingernail. No matter what trick or angle he used, it all came to naught.
Even the destructive smashing of Bren's hammer was easily blocked by the mere flick of a finger. She did it all with terrifying ease.
Sparks flew along with shards of grounded granite.
The Immortal Lily was practically dancing with her skull-cup, enjoying the slashes and smashes of the Angels' weapons, using the clanks and thumps as her music.
Seth watched the fight with an uneasiness he couldn't explain—especially when he looked at her face.
Everything seemed familiar…
Her graceful yet bewitching movements, the way she bit her lower lip as she teased the angels, and the expression she wore... the face of someone longing for something, or someone, he couldn't name.
It all played out before him in slow motion.
"B-Boss! Cleanse!"
Bren smashed his hammer against the Immortal, hitting nothing—not even the fabric of her black gown. With a whisper of a prayer, golden-white light radiated from his body. As soon as the light touched them, Bren immediately rejoined Xel in attacking the woman.
Yet, nothing happened.
Nothing changed for Seth.
He could still feel the haunting emptiness as he watched the Immortal dance within the symphony of attacks.
His breath hitched, his heart beating wildly... not from the urge to join the fight, but to protect the woman.
A woman who didn't even seem to need protection from him.
'W-what's happening to me?'
Seth took a single, shaky step forward. Bell instantly noticed the abnormality in his actions.
"Seth… not good."
Bell tapped the floor with her staff. Verdant veins erupted from the stone, snaking across the ground toward Seth and binding him in his tracks.
"Bell! S-She needs help!"